Liquid shock absorbing buffer



United States Patent LIQUID SHOCK ABSORBING BUFFER 10 C1a1ata,6 Drawing Ftp.

U.S.C1. 293/1. 104/254.2l3/l.213/223: 215/1. 215/52. 215/99. 228/385. 244/138. 256/1. 256/ I 3. l: 267/ l 39. 293/60. 293/70.

lat. C1. ..B60r 19/02. B611 l9/04.F16f9/10 Fleldofseatdt 94/15;

215/1.1.5. 52.99; 228/385; 244/138; 256/131. 1; 293/$l(F). 52(F). 62. 71. 71(P).1. 60. 63. 69. 70. 72; 21 3II(A). 223; 104/254; 220/385; 267/ll6.139.140.141.151.152.153

1 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 193.015 7/1877 McCarthy 220/385 876.504 H1908 Tablet 220/386 900.223 10/1908 Smith 2 I 5/99X 1.313.282 8/1919 Finnegan 293/71 1.402.324 1/1922 Van Gelder r 293/71 1.677.403 7/1928 Morrison A 220/38.5X

2.650.851 9/1953 Lepponen 293/69 2.712.913 7/1955 Stanley 244/138 2.731.290 l/l956 Corydon.... 293/71X 2.829.915 4/1958 Clareau 293/63X 2.964.139 12/1960 Wittl et a1. 244/138X 3.097.725 7/1963 Peterson 213/1 X FOREIGN PATENTS 21.998 8/1923 Australia Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner- Howard Beltran AllorneyKimmel. Crowell & Weaver PATENTEDUEB 8W0 3.545802 INVENTOR,

Ja/m/ n4 Mm ATTORNEYS.

tive-concept.

LIQUID SHOCK ABSORBING BUFFER This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 420,314, filed Dec. 22, i964, now US. Pat. No. 3,284,122, issued Nov. 8, i966, the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinby reference, with the instant invention comprising an improvement thereover. 7

ln using and experimenting with thebumper of the aforementioned application, it has been found that the openings through which captive liquid escapes become deformed by thermal contraction'and expansion, impact of the bumper 'with other objects. and forother reasons not entirely ascertainable at this time. Because of the configuration of the opening and plug inthe aforementioned application, deformation of the opening will result in.a more tenacious holding of the plug-therein thus interfering with theseparation of the plug and opening upon impact'ofthe bumper with another object.

It is accordingly a primary object of the instant invention to provide a shock proof bumper in which a captive liquid is released through at least one 'openable, closure with the forces necessary-to open the closurelbeinguneffected by deformationthereof.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a shock proof bumper of the character described in which the openable closure is fonned by a deformation susceptible passageway in'the bumper and a'commensuratelydeformable resilient I has inserted therein, preferably duringmanufacture, a pluraliplug positioned therein for-accommodating the deformations of the passageway. r l

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a shock proof bumper of the character described in which means are provided for retaining the plug and bumper in spaced relation upon separation of the plug.

A still further object of theinstant invention is to provide a shock proof bumper and retaining means of the character described which are hidden from view thereby promoting the esthetic values of the bumper.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention'reside in the combinations of elements, a'r'iangernents'o'f parts, and

features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this invenconnecting means for securing it to the vehicle; t

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the bumper of the instant invention taken longitudinally with respect to the vehicle along line 3-3of FIG. 1 as viewed inthe direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 isan enlarged side eievational view of the plug of the instant invention; v

FIG. S-is a' longitudinal cross-sectional view of the plug of FlG. -4;and .1 7

FIG. 6 is across-sectional view of the plug of HQ. 4 taken substantially along line 6-6-thereof as viewed in the direction indicated bythearrows.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference'characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, there isiindicated generally at 10 the tear end'of a motor vehicle such as an automobile, truck or the like, which is provided with a rigid vertical facing 12 extending transversely along the'rear' of the vehicle and connected thereto by a plurality or, braces l4. lt should be unty of C-shaped metal; strips shown generally at 22 having reverted ends 24 which engage the upper and lower edges of facing 12. It should be readily apparent that bumper 16 may be secured on the front as well as the rear of a vehicle and that a plurality'of-metal strips'22 may be utilized to secure bumper 16 to facing 12 or thatany other suitable connecting means may be utilized. I

As may be seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3', bumper 16 forms a lip 26 overlying facing .12 and'metal strips 22 with a plurality of openable closures shown generallyat 28 being-formed on the .rear upwardly inclined face. 30v of lip 26. Openable'closure 28 includes an openingorpassageway 32'formed in lip 22 communicating between compartment. 34 of bumper l6 and face- 30. Positioned in eacho'f openable closures 28 is a plug. shown generally-at 36 comprised of 'a closure plate 38 positioned exterior of-bumper l6 and resilient annular wall in close en- 'gagement'with passageway 32'of bumper 16. As explained in direct shock imparted through :a normally rigid bumper to the vehicle.

One difficulty with the device of the aforementioned application is that opening 32 becomes deformed because of stresses created in lip 26- as previously intimated. Although opening 32 is preferably, circular, it will be apparent that deformation thereof will produce a .noncircular opening thereby tending to jamfa solid .plug' therein. Unlessjthe captive liquid in compartment 34 can be releasedin a relatively slow fashion, it will be apparent that an impact force will be directly imparted to the vehiclev thereby defeating the purpose of bumper 16. Since annular wall 40 is made of a resilient materia], such asrubber or the like, it will accommodate the deformatio'ns of passageway 32 and will separate therefrom upon the impact of bumper l6with another object regardless of the deformed condition of opening 32. Stated differently, the annular wall {40 of plug 36 deformscommensurately with the deformation of lip 26 regardless of the state of deformation of opening 32. Y

- Another important feature of plug 36 is a retaining means 'shown generally at 42 which acts to retain closure plate 38 and annular wall 40 in spaced relation with respect to bumper l6 after plug 36 has separated from lip 26. Retaining means 42 includes a flexible rod 44 affixed in any suitable manner to v closure plate 38 and a cross bar 46 secured to flexible rod 44 derstood that facing 12 may be the conventional bumper of the motor vehicle or asubstantiallystraight plate in lieu thereof. The shock proof bumper of the instant invention is,

designated generally'a't 16 andcomprises an elongated hollow readilycollapsible member 18 which is preferably made of a relatively stiff'rubber or other similarresilient material. The

inner or rear wall'20 of hollow member 18 is thickened and rigidbacking plateconsisting of an extending portion of the adjacent theend thereof. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5,,cross bar 46 is inserted .through'a small opening formed in flexible rod 44 with cross bar 46 being. retained therein by the flexible characteristics of rod 44. 'Since' retaining means'42 is posi I shock proof bumper which accomplishes all of the objects of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant invention and since many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be um I derstood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illus trative and not in a limiting sense. a

I claim: v g I. in a shock proof buffer assembly comprising-a relatively frame of a standard motor vehicle, an elongated hollow body member comprised of a resilient'material of sufficient rigidity normally to retain-a predeterminedshape, and of sufficient member, the improvement wherein:

a. said opening is deformable by the liquid upon impact; and

b. said means normally closing said opening is commensurately deformable with respect to the deformability of said opening. i

2. The shock proof bumper ofgclaim '1 wherein the closing means includes a deformable annular wall in engagement with the interior wall of theopeningand a closure plate, affixed to the annular .wall, exteriorly of the hollow member.

- 3. The shock proof bumperof claim) wherein the annular wall is resilient. V

4. The shock proof bumper of claim 3 further including means retainingthe plug andhollow member in spacedrelation upon separation of the'plug and hollow member.

5. The shock proof bumper of claim 4 wherein the retaining means'includes a flexible member, affixed to the closure plate, extending into the hollow member and a cross bar, onthe flexible rod, spaced from the plug.

6. In a shock proof buffer of the type comprising an elongate hollow member, constructed of resilient material having sufficient rigidity normally to retain its shape which is normally filled with liquid and secured to a backing support plate on a vehicle, said hollow memberhaving a passageway defining opening therein and a releasableplug normally closing the opening, the improvement. wherein: v

a. the opening is resiliently deformable by liquid updn impact of the hollow object with another object;

' the deformability of the openingiand .c. whereby upon impact the liquid inltlie hollow;m embe ir fthe'plug from the opening and escape through said openi'ngin a quantity may deform the opening and for and at a rate commensurate withthe severity of im-' pact and the deformation of the hollow member. 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the plugincludes a deformable annular wall in engagement with the inteiior'wall of the opening and a closure plate, affixed to the annular wall,

exteriorly of the hollow member.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the annular-Wallis resilient.

9. The invention of claim 8' further including means retaining' the plug and hollowmember in spaced relation upon.

separation of the plug and hollow member.

10. The inventio'n'ofclaim' 9 wherein theretaining means includes a flexible member, affixed-t0 the closure plate, extending into the hollow member and 'a'crossbar, on theflexible rod, spaced from the plug. 

